Spicy Wines
Spicy Wines: Bet Shalom Wine Club, November 16, 2024
1. Santa Margherita Prosecco Superiore, Valdobbiadene NV @ $21.99: Winemaker Notes: This sparkling wine has fine, lively bubbles that dance within its bright straw-yellow color and greenish reflections. Its lovely aromas include ripe pineapples, peaches, and Rennet apples as well as delicate florals. Its finish is bright and dry, yet sweet on the palate.
2. The Language of Yes 2020 Grenache, Santa Maria Valley @ $36.99: Wine Enthusiast: Crisp aromas of strawberry, pomegranate, rose petals and sumac are sharp and focused on the nose of this bottling from Randall Grahm, who slightly dried these grapes post-harvest. Sour cherry and alpine strawberry flavors rise on the sip, with fresh flowers and a light hint of dried meat also showing.
3. Stag’s Leap 2019 Petite Sirah, Napa Valley @ $36.99: Winemaker notes: Dark, inky, and dense, with layers of bramble berry fruit, touches of earth, and lovely floral tones interwoven with more savory notes of black pepper and cigar box spice, all supported by balanced oak integration. On the palate, ripe saturated flavors of cassis, blackberry preserves, blueberry creme, cherry kirsch, vanilla spice, and dark plum envelope the intense mouthfeel. A silky viscosity with voluminous texture, wrapped in velvety mouth-coating tannins, completes the generous and lengthy finish.
4. Alain Graillot Crozes Hermitage 2018 @ $39.99: Verve Wines: Syrah from 30+ year old vines tended to by one of the region's most revered vignerons. Fermented in concrete with indigenous yeast, then aged in 1-3 year old oak barrels purchased from some of the top estates in Burgundy. Juniper spice aromatics and crushed black cherry and berry fruit finish with a juicy precision. This will be delicious with grilled beef or a meaty stew.
5. Bedrock Old Vine Zinfandel 2022, Sonoma @ $29.99: Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant: Sourced from multiple very old-vine vineyards spread across northern California, this exemplary Zin is a traditional field blend. Lush, aromatic and boasting concentrated layers of flavors, you would be hard pressed to find a better Zin at this price point! We hand the podium to Morgan [winemaker]: The wine is a blend of 85% Zinfandel filled out with Mataro, Grenache, Alicante Bouschet, Carignan, Petite Sirah and scant amounts of the many other varieties that can be found in California’s older, multifarious vineyards. Many of our most venerable vineyards contribute to this wine, including Bedrock, Teldeschi, Esola, Pagani, Papera, Evangelho and Pato filled in with lots from other old vineyards throughout the state. 93 points Wine Spectator: "Dynamic and generous, this Zin combines old-school briar with sleek suppleness, serving up stylish flavors of raspberry and cherry accented by savory pepper, cinnamon and garrigue tones that sail on the rich finish."